Talented teen Eboney creates own toy story

Eboney Calladine

Published:11:30Saturday 19 July 2014

A talented teen has created a toy story of her own after winning a national design competition.

Hayfield School pupil Eboney Calladine, aged 15, scooped a clutch of prizes after crafting a colourful Noah’s Ark toy in the annual Playsafe contest which encourages youngsters to come up with safe toys for children.

Eboney’s design impressed the judges with its clever creativity and safety features and beat off more than 250 entries from across the UK to be crowned winner at the Trading Standards Institute’s conference in Harrogate.

The design was chosen as the overall winner, and she took home £100 herself and £1,000 for her school.

British Toy and Hobby Association director general Roland Earl said: “Eboney stood out thanks to her colourful fun stacking and jigsaw toy.

“The judges could see this fitting into a display in any good toy shop. It really is a well designed toy.

Chief executive Leon Livermore said: “Every year I enjoy seeing the fantastic fruits of children’s imagination as they dream up a toy.

“I’m so impressed with the creativity that we see and the level of attention to detail.

“It is a great way to engage children and young people in a fun way while making them aware of what to look out for in terms of safety.”